Wireless Resources

Download the Free Wireless Guide

Wireless microphone systems are a key component in almost every broadcast, motion picture, theatrical and sound stage production, as well as corporate, religious and educational venues. The Wireless Guide offers readers an excellent foundation in the concepts of designing and operating a wireless microphone system.

This guide is intended to uncover some of the mysteries behind the operating principles of wireless systems and help the reader separate fact from fiction when selecting a wireless system for a particular application. Far too much propaganda has been published by various manufacturers, with boastful, and sometimes incredible claims about the quality of the equipment being offered. Armed with an understanding of the basic principles of wireless operation, it becomes possible to see through the maze and make intelligent choices.

The 600MHz band auction, which began last spring, has finally come to a long awaited conclusion.

On April 13, 2017, the FCC published the final CRPN, (Channel Reallocation Public Notice), which outlines the move of the TV stations in the upper 600MHz spectrum to new channels below 608MHz in a process called "repacking”. Some stations chose to go off the air (for a cash payout), and some will begin sharing a channel with other stations. We now know not only how much spectrum is to remain and where the "duplex gap” and guard band will be (see diagram below), but also the exact channel lineup your city or town is going to end up with.

This news is heartening. Much less spectrum is being lost than we had originally feared. The original goal of the auction, had it been successful, would have taken away 126MHz of the UHF spectrum. We are grateful that the final loss of only 84MHz will be much less harmful to the operation of wireless microphones and other wireless gear.

The final Channel Reassignment Public Notice triggers a 39 month "clock” during which the TV stations must either go off the air or move to their new assigned channels. This will proceed in 10 “phases” beginning this July and continuing until October 2020. Once the new wireless services begin operation in a particular city on their assigned channel, wireless operation in that channel must cease. So the changeover will be different for every city.

As we have in the past, we are happy to offer re-blocking service for any eligible affected units, at approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of new. Please consult the re-blocking price list for further details. For any questions about re-blocking or to schedule your products for this service, please contact us at 800-821-1121 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We will continue to update this page as news from the FCC is published.

The diagram below shows the resulting TV band spectrum with detail on the 11MHz Duplex Gap and 3MHz channel 37 Guard Band.

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Lectrosonics is very concerned about these issues, and we hope to do everything possible to make you aware of what is happening and help you with the transition. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

CONSUMER ALERT

The following statement is applicable to wireless transmitters that operate on Band C1 and Blocks 24 and up.

This particular wireless microphone device operates in portions of the 617-652 MHz or 663-698 MHz frequencies. Beginning in 2017, these frequencies are being transitioned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the 600 MHz service to meet increasing demand for wireless broadband services. Users of this device must cease operating on these frequencies no later than July 13, 2020. In addition, users of this device may be required to cease operations earlier than that date if their operations could cause harmful interference to a 600 MHz service licensee’s wireless operations on these frequencies. For more information, visit the FCC’s wireless microphone website at www.fcc.gov/wireless-microphones-guide or call the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC (TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC).